The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“Yeah.”

“When do we get in?”

“After I have my guy look at the device.”

“Not before? When will that be?”

“How many guys you got coming for this?”

“Enough to get our shit done,” he deadpanned.

I studied him for a moment. I didn’t know what they really wanted; the PRS-500 could unlock more doors than they even knew existed. I was loathe to give that power to them—there was no way they’d get their hands on it without Geezer working his magic on it first.

“What are you guys going to do again? I don’t remember.”

He gave me a faint grin. “Good try. No bulls-eye.”

“You’re just expecting me to give this to you? To give you free-entry into a school that I used to go to? Where my friends go?”

“And your ex?” he asked smoothly.

“This isn’t about him.”

Tray shifted closer to me, his eyes melting to amber as he whispered, “I kinda like it when he comes into the picture.”

I held firm.

As he drew closer, his head bent towards my neck, I felt his lips lightly caressing there, and he breathed, “I’d like another go round.”

“Mr. Evans! Miss Matthews!”

Looking up, a bit more dazed than I wanted to admit, I saw our psych teacher hurrying down the hallway, shooing us with her hands. “Get inside. Now,” she cried.

As we walked inside, the entire class immediately hushed, watching both of us make our way to our seats.

Molly was in awe. I could tell from the worshipful glaze over her face. Mandy was frowning. Jasmine was glaring. Bryce was just amused, with his head tipped back, a small smile spread on his face.

Molly leaned close and whispered, “I heard that Carter Sethlers is in town.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“I heard he’s with your sister.”

“I don’t know,” I whispered back.

“And I heard that he’s having a party tomorrow night.” The girl was relentless.

“So?” I asked, scooting my chair aside. Did the girl have a clue what personal boundaries were?

“Can I come?”

“You hit me up to set you up with Justin Travers and now you’re trying to get me to take you to Carter’s party? What kind of science nerd are you?”

She giggled, clamping a hand quickly over her mouth, petrified as some of the students glanced over. “Please,” she whispered around her hand.

“Why? Why do you want to do this stuff? Be around these people?”

She gave me a dumb-founded stare. “Because I’m a nerd. I’m socially challenged.”